Kensington CDC wins Kresge Foundation health funding

PHILADELPHIA-—The Kresge Foundation has awarded New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) a two-year, $150,000 grant in support of its trauma-informed community development work in Kensington.

NKCDC is one of 13 grantees in a new Kresge Health Program initiative called Advancing Health Equity through Housing, which aims to address the harmful physical and mental health impacts of housing instability. The grant will enable NKCDC to integrate a trauma-informed approach into its core services of housing counseling, community engagement, and economic development.

"We're tremendously grateful that the Kresge Foundation recognizes the connection between housing and health, and honored to be among the first recipients of this award," said NKCDC's Executive Director, Felix Torres-Colon. "Understanding traumatic stress, resilience and healing already has transformed the way NKCDC works in Kensington, and these new tools are giving our community a new way to see itself."

Over the last two years, in partnership with Impact Services Corporation and the Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), NKCDC has worked with Kensington residents to design a training curriculum to teach community members about the effects of trauma and how to address it effectively.

"Kresge has learned important lessons about the intersection of health and stable, equitable housing," Kresge's Senior Fellow Fred Karnas said. "We now know that housing is paramount for individuals and families to achieve well-being and economic stability. And we also know that solutions designed with significant and meaningful input from those most affected are most likely to result in positive long-term change. We are investing in those organizations that are spurring positive change in cities and neighborhoods across the country."

The Kresge Foundation is a private, national foundation focused on expanding opportunities in U.S. cities. Kresge's award to NKCDC furthers its Health Program, which seeks to help communities overcome environmental and social disadvantages that contribute to poor health. Its press release can be found here.

New Kensington Community Development Corporation (NKCDC) has worked to strengthen the physical, social, and economic fabric of Philadelphia since 1985. NKCDC is a chartered member of NeighborWorks America. Its economic development initiatives span Kensington, Fishtown and Port Richmond, and its housing counseling services are free to all Philadelphia residents. Visit www.nkcdc.org.